U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) spoke in favor of Bill Northey whose confirmation vote for Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services at the U.S. Department of Agriculture is being blocked by U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas).

U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA), a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, questioned Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt on his efforts to roll back harmful rules and regulations.